🚀 go-pugleaf

>  online, ASCII-format collections available for browsing/ftp/etc. over the Internet?

The University of California's MELVYL online catalog can be accessed
remotely.  I am somewhat embarassed to admit that I don't know how
to access it at Cal except through a hardwired terminal in our library,
but on the net I sometimes do TELNET UWIN.U.WASHINGTON.EDU
to get at it through University of Washington Information.  (Washington 
also seems to have a database of its own on UWIN -- I use MELVYL
because often I can just go down to campus and pick up the book I
identified.)  

I don't know the official terms and conditions of using either service, but
someone local to Washington announced the availability of UWIN over on
alt.usage.english and I haven't seen any subsequent indications that it's
uncool for outsiders to use it or MELVYL.  *Be a sport and do this during 
off-peak hours,* obviously.

Happy netting,
Joe
"The pallid pimp of the dead-line/The enervate of the pen" -- Robert
Service